This demonstration is in response to the renewed Israeli air strikes on the Gaza strip which have already claimed the lives of at least nineteen Palestinians since Wednesday night, 6 of them children including a seven year old girl and an 11 month old baby. The bombing looks set to escalate with Israel calling up reservists and deploying the navy.

Gaza has been under siege by the Israeli military since 2006 and is subjected to regular attacks by the Israeli military. In January 2009 the last full scale attack resulted in the deaths of over 1400 people including over 350 children, schools hospitals and aid depots were all targeted.

Gaza has been under a long-term constant assault by the Israeli military. Since the 1st January 2012 to the 6th November 71 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, despitE no Israelis being killed during the same period. Gaza's economy is crippled by the Israeli siege and basic infrastructure is in a state of disrepair.

“As the last seven years of the global BDS movement and the long history of past international solidarity with the struggle against apartheid in South Africa have shown, the most effective, sustainable and morally consistent form of solidarity with the oppressed is for international civil society and conscientious people around the world to apply boycotts, divestment and sanctions against the oppressor and all institutions that collude in maintaining and justifying its oppression. It is high time for BDS against Israel.” - Palestinian Boycott National Committee - 15th November 2012